DrFell

Playing with GIB just now, I opened 2c, and the unopposed auction proceeded 2c - 2d - 3c - 3d. The 3d bid was described as "Cheaper Minor --- 11- HCP, 12- total points". This is utterly misleading (and I was utterly misled). I take it that the bid is supposed to be a "second negative", showing a more-or-less bust hand. But the description covers almost everything below opening strength. Is it really conceivable that GIB could bid like this with anything approaching 11 HCP? (I realize that people better informed than me will recognize the "Cheaper Minor" convention, and won't be fooled. But that's no reason for the description to be plain wrong.)

I'm not suggesting that new users should be barred from hosting entirely, if nobody else is available. At the "random casual game" tables I play, really the only job of a host is to boot. At any rate, I've never seen one do anything else. So if the host can't boot, they might as well not be host. (I realize that the host has other functions at the more structured types of game.) Thanks for the tip, I'll try that next time.

I understand that users acquire booting rights only after they achieve a certain number of logins. But they get to host tables right from the start. That leads to impasses, where a stuck username can't be removed, because the host doesn't have permission. This can break up the table and is rather embarrassing for the host concerned (or at least I find it so). I suggest that users without the requisite number of logins should be passed over as table hosts if more established users are present. Also, maybe hosts could be enabled to resign without leaving the table? I don't think this is possible at present.